Apparatus for the manufacture of receptacle closures



July 25, 1933. w. A. STEPHENS 1,919,578

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF RECEPTACLE CLOSURES Filed May 28, 1930's Sheets-Shee t 1 July 25, 1933. w. A. STEPHENS v1,919,578

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF RECEPTAGLE CLOSURES Filed May 28, 19503 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 25, 1933. w. A. STEPHENS 1,919,578

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF RECEPTACLE CLOSURES Filed May 28, 19503 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented July 25, 1933 WILLIAM ALFRED srnrnnivs, orLennon, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE BRITISH SURE SEAL COMPANY LIMITEDAPPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF RECEP'IACLE CLQSURES Application filedMay 23, 1930, Serial No.' l56,612, and in Greatliritain July 13, 1923.

This invention relates to the manufacture of closure devices forbottles, jars or the like. It is usual practice to utilize as a closurefor a bottle, jar or the like a Phoenix closure, i. e. a closure soldunder the registered trade-mark Phoenix, and including a cap (termed inthe trade an inner) which is lodged within, a flanged jointed lockingring (termed in the trade a -band), the

flange'engaging over the periphery of the cap. Such closures are sold tofirms where bcttlin and presserving are practised and each closure issecured to a filled container by the free edge or the depending edge ofT7 the ring being spun or pressed in under a shoulder on the container,the ring then-be mg of channel form. The rings so used have at one end aslot and near the other end a ton ue, and these are engaged underpressure to make the ointed ring an endless member. Such a locking ringis usually fractured on removal and accordingly 18 con SKlQIBClnon-replaceable.

In the manufacture of a non-replaceable locking ring, a strip blank isstamped out ofstrip material, the slotat the one end, hereafter termedthe tail, being cut transversely of the strip and the tongue outlongitudlnally at the other end, hereafter referred to :39

as .the head. These operations are effected with machine tools termed aband die and in such machine it has been proposed to form the punch sothat in cutting the tongue it also lifts itslightly from the band tofacilitate the linking operation hereafter described. However, generallyspeaking-the tongue is merely cut and left in the plane of the strip. 3I

As the present invention has particular reference to the manufacture ofPhoenix type of closures, the usual manual operations necessary toproduce them will now be described. 1

The stamped strip is first curled, then the tongue is pried up andlifted slightly from the plane of the strip and the ends linked by asort of sliding,'scraping action, the slot at the tail end beingthreaded over the tongue.

Very often, as a result of speeding up linking, the strip is bent into aflat elliptical form by the efforts of the operator to quickly place theslot at the free end of the tongue and pull it under the ton ue, andwhether or not the slot is actually pulled to the root of the 55 tonguewill depend on the efficiency of the effort of the operator. The tongue,which is then ov 'rlying the tail of the ring, is'hammered down, therebylocking the linked ends of the stripand forming the ring. Each of theseoperations is usually effected by different operators. It is thenrequired to associate with the jointed ring a cap which is to be usedwith the ring. Each cap is placed by an operator by hand within ajointed ring (usually distorted as a'result of curl-- ing), andgenerally the cap is disposed about 1 down from one edge of the ring.

In actual practice here again considerable differences in result areobtained, first of all by reason of the difference of the'depth ofdisposal of the cap Within the ring; and secondly with regard to theparallelism of the cap to a plane containing an edge of the ring. Thenext operation consists in putting the termed a dial feed press whichcentralizes the cap in the ring and turns over the upstanding edge ofthe ring, thereby forming'a flangeover the cap of about deep, that is,corresponding to the depth of the displace.- ment of the cap within thering. In this form the cap and ring are sent to the place where theywill be used on containers, and machines such as described in U. S.Patent No. 1,452,4cl0 may be utilized for'fixing such caps with theirrings on the containers by turning in the lower edge of the ring underthe neck of the container.

In U. S. Patent No. 1,725,602 is described and claimed a method ofjointing non-replaceable locking rings whereby the several handoperations referred to areexpedited and more accurately effected, andthere is de-V scribed in this specification and in U. S. Pat

ent No. 1,725,601 apparatus whereby the association of bands" andinnersmay be automatically effected as a continuous automatic operation. 7 I VIn co-pending "Application Serial No. 611,673 filed'May 16, 1932, I havedescribed a new form of non-replaceable locking ring in which thetongue, instead of being formed in the head, emanates from the head, andthe band during nated. h v

The present invention comprises an apparatus for curling and jointinglocking rings comprising in combination a former including resilientmeans for engaging the band from which the ring is to be made and tonguesetting means automatically operable during the curling operation.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises in combination a rotary formerincluding resilient means projecting from the periphery thereof toengagethe band from which the ring is made,a plunger movable through theperiphery of the former to set the band tongue anda fixed abutmentadapted to actuate the plunger during a curling operation.

The apparatus for curling and jointing non-replaceable locking rings maycomprise means adapted to press together the jointed ends of the bandduring the final rotation of the former, whereby the relative movementbetween the pressing means and the former is utilized to effect pressingtogether of the jointed ends by a simple rolling action. To this end askid block may be employed which moves over the periphery of the former,but in an opposite direction, or a skid block which is stationary may beemployed, the block being disposed so as to be operative on the tongueof the band immediately before the ends of the band are jointed togetherand before the former has completed one revolution.

Preferably, however, the jointed ends of the band are pressed togetherby a freely. mounted roller as such a construction entirely eliminatesany scratching or scoring on the band by a relatively slidingmovement.The roller may be carried on a rocker arm actuated from the former, forinstance by a cam provided on the former so as to positively roll backthe tongue after a curling and jointing operation.

Preferably the former is intermittently actuated from an oscillatingmember operating over a ratchet, the oscillating member directlyoperatingan ejector for-the jointed ring during its return movementwhereby the former is cleared for operation during the next forwardmovement of the oscillating member. I

The oscillating member may be provided with an articulated finger andthe ejector laterally displaced to the former through the agency of abell crank said finger wiping over the bell crank during rotation of theformer but moving thebell crank to effect ejection while the former isstationary.

Preferably, as hereafter more particularly pointed out, themachine is ahand operated joining or assembly is elimiinachine, the oscillatingmember being a handle operable to and fro to effect successively curlingand jointingand then ejection.

The apparatus for curling and jointing non-replaceable locking rings maycomprise in combination a rotating form-er including resilient meansprojecting from the periphery thereof to engage the band from which thering is made, a face on the former for the reception of an inner wherebythe inner is located on the former so that the band can be curled andjointed on the-inner and resilient means tensioned as a result oflocating the inner, whereby the inner is retained on the former .duringcurling and jointing and kicked therefrom when ejected from the former.v

Preferably, the resilient means is constituted by a spring disposedacross the former and adapted to retain the inner thereon and to kick ittherefrom as hereafter more fully referred to.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood referencewill now be made to the accompanying drawings which show by way ofexample some embodiments of the present invention.

In the drawings:

Figures 1 and 2 are a front elevation and a side elevation respectivelyof one form of apparatus for curling and jointing bands according to thepresent invention;

Figure 3 being a plan view of a construction as shown in Figures 1 and 2modified by the addition of means for automatically supplying inners tothe machine.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of the former detached; and

Figure 5 a side elevation thereof. I

-Figure 6 is an elevation of theapparatus for supplying inners tothemachine shown in Figure 3, the parts being in the position when an innermay be pushed on to the former of the apparatus. I

Figure 7 is a detailed section on the line VIIVII of Figure 6 showingthe inner earrier and means for pushing the inneron to the former. e

Figure 8 is, a view similar to Figure 6 showing the carrier for theinners in position to receive an inner.

Figure 9 shows the form of band locked and applied to an inner by amachine according to the present invention, which band is the subject ofmy co-pending application Serial No. 611,673.

In the drawings like reference numerals designate the same or similarparts.

Referring nowto Figures 1 to 9, and supposing a band as described withreference to Figure 9 is being operated upon:

The machine comprises a rotatable former 11 which carries a springpressed plunger 12 projecting from the periphery of the former and overwhich the perforation 10 in aband 1 (see Fig. 9) is passed. This band isthe subject of application, Serial No. 611,67 8, and is moreparticularly described therein. The former 11 is disposed within spacedguide plates 13 as in the construction described in the prior U. S.Patent, No. 1,7 25,602. These guide plates include a camming surface 14which deflects the head of the strip on to the former 11 so that duringa rotation of the former 11 the band is curled thereupon.

For the purpose of setting the tongue sothat it will readily enter theslot 3 in the tail of the band when the tail becomes superposed over thehead as a result of the complete rotation of the former 11, a plunger 15carried on a rocker 16 pivoted at 17 on the former 11 is employed. 7 v

The plunger 15 moves in a slot 18 in the former when the rocker 16 ismoved about its pivot. This is effected by a trip 19 fixed below theformer, as clearly shown in Figure 1.

The band on the former is held to the former by the enveloping guideplates 13 aforesaid, the tongue 5 of the band always travelling betweenthe plates so that when the rocker is tripped and the plunger 15 movesaway from the centre of the former 11, it strikes the tongue outwardlyand between the guide plates, whilst the body of the band is held by theguide plates.

During one rotation of the former the band is engaged by the springpressed plunger 12, carried round, and when the rocker passes the tripthe tongue is set back from the former, and as the completion of therotation approaches, the tip of the tongue enters the slot 3 in the tailof the band, passes through it until the root of the tongue is againstthe tail and then the jointed ends of the curled band are pressedtogether as nowto be described.

Pressing means in the form of. a freely mounted roller 20 is carried atone extremity of a rocker 21 pivoted at 22 in the guide plates 13, theother end of the rocker being provided with a finger 23 preferablycomprised in a slotted plate 24 adjustably connected to the rocker asindicated at 25.

The former 11 comprises a cam 26 conven iently includedin a detachablepart of a flange 27 of the former, said detachable part being secured inposition by screws 28. Figure 4, the profile of the cam 26 being such asto push the finger 23 at the desired momentand move the rocker 21 aboutits pivot 22 causing the roller 20 to roll over and press on the jointedhead and tail of the band to secure the ends before the former comes torest.

The former 11 is, as clearly indicated in the drawings, intermittentlyrotated through the agency of an oscillating member 29 provided with apawl 30 cooperating with a ratchet 31 mounted on a shaft 32 connected by4:1 gearing to a shaft 33. see Figure 3. The ratchet 31 comprises,Figure 1, four teeth at 90 apart, so that for each step-movement of theratchet one complete revolution of the shaft 33 obtains. On the end ofthe shaft 33 is screwed the former 11, the former 11 comprising athreaded projection34 (see Figure 5) which screws into the tapped end ofthe shaft 33.

' Conveniently the oscillating member 29 is extended into a handle 35.By pulling the handle 35 down the pawl 30 moves the ratchet .31 throughone step, and as already explained the former 11 is moved through acomplete revolution and by reason of control of the setting plunger 15and the roller 20 by the former 11, the band is curled and ointed, theends pressed together and the plunger 12 depressed out of engagementwith the perfo ration 10 during rotation of the former.

It will be seen that the return of the handle 35 does not impart anymovement to the former 11 so that with the alternate move. ments of thehandle the former is rotated through one revolution and is thenquiescent.- The quiescent state of the former is utilized to effectejection of'the jointed locking ring therefrom, as before the former hascome to rest all the necessary operations on the band have beencompleted. To this end there is mounted on theshaft 33 a collar groovedon the'outside as clearly indicated at37 in Figure 3.- In the groove arelodged at opposite ends of a (conveniently horizontal) diameter twoshoes 38 carried on arms 39 fixed to shaft 40 running at right angles tothe shaft 33 carrying the former 11.

On the shaft is provided a short arm-41 conveniently provided with abowl 42,'thereby the arms 39 and. the arm 41 are connected together inthe manner of bell cranks.

By rocking the short arm 41 the shaft 40 is turned and the arms 39 arerocked'carrying with them the shoes38, thereby the collar is laterallydisplaced towards the former 11. The former 11 is transversely bored at(see Figure 4) for the passage of ejector pins 43 carried by the collar,thereby the lateral displacement of the collar transmitted to the pinscauses the pins to engage a curled band and push it off the former 11.

To actuate this ejector whilst the former 11 is quiescent theoscillating member 29 is provided with an articulated finger 44 fixed toa stub 29a formed on the member 29. During the downward movement of thehandle 35 the finger 44 wipes the bowl 42 on the short arm 41, but onthe return of the handle, that is, while the former 11 is quiescent, thefinger presses down the lever 41 causing the lateral displacement of thecollar 36 and the ejection of the band as hereinbefore described.

The former 11, guide plates 13 and oscillatin member may conveniently bemounted on a base plate 45 to provide a unit structure which may includeshort standards 46 carrying bearings 47 and 48 for the shafts 32 and 33respectively, and an adjustable stop 49 may be included on the baseplate to limit the downward movement of the handle so that only aquarter of the revoiutionis imparted to the shaft 32.

To assure correct position of the former 11 after acurling operation,whereby a registration of the borings 43a in the former with the ejectorpins 43 is procured, the former 11 may be provided also with a shoulder50, which is engaged by a hooked end 51 (see Figure 1) of a catch leverpivoted at 52 between the guide plates 13, the said lever including atail 53.

The arrangement of parts is such that when the handle 35 is pulled downin a clockwise direction through an angle of 90 the articulated finger44 after wiping the bowl 42 is brought up against the catch lever,causing the hooked end 51 thereof to be disposed in the path of theshoulder on the formerll, thereby arresting it at the moment when thereis registration between the ejector pins 43 and the borings 43a intheformer 11.

It will be notedthat the tail 53 of the catch lever extends under thebowl 42. By such an arrangement, when the handle 35 is returned to ejectthe curled band by the agency of the articulated finger 44 bearing onthe bowl 42 the latter bears in turn on the tail 53, thereby removingthe hooked end 51 of the catch lever from the shoulder 50 of the former11, leaving the latter free for the next curling operation.

As in prior U. S. Patent No. 1,725,602 the former includes a face 54over which an inner maybe disposed with its edge on the former so that aband may be curled and jointed on the former, thereby an associatedinner and locking ring will be ejected during the return of the handle35.

Although manual means are described for operating the machine, obviouslyany automatic means may be provided to produce continuously thealternate intermittent movements of the former and ejector.

On the guide plates 13 a feed guide 55 may be mounted in juxtaposedrelation to the former, thereby bands may be fed to the former incorrect register with the plunger, or if the machine is automaticallyoperated automatic means may be provided for feeding forward strips tothe plunger in continuous successiomand in combination therewith meansmay be provided for automatically supplying in successlon inners to theformer, for instance as described in U. S. Patent No. 1,725,602.

A great advantage of apparatus as hereinbefore described is thecompletely positive action obtained and the absence of springs (exceptfor one on the plunger).

Alternatively. as illustrated in Figures 3. 6 and 7, means for feedingan inner actuated from the handle 35 may be provided. To

this end there may be mounted on the front of the base plate 45, asviewed in Figure 6, an open framework 56 including an upper horizontalpart 56a carrying a parallel rail 57 ,on which slides a carrier 58 heldthereto by the said upper part 56a of the open framework 56, and beinggrooved, asclearly indicated at 586 (see Figure 7) to ride on the rail57;

The open frame supports a bracket 59 for a chute 60 inclined to thevertical, as clearly shown in Figure 3, and arranged to deliver innersto the carriage when in the position shown in Figure 6.

As most clearly shown in Figures 7 and 8, the carrier 58 comprises ashaped portion 58a to hold an inner received from the chute 60, andretaining the position slightly inclined from the vertical. If then thecarriers move to the right, that is, from the position shown in Figure 8to the position shown in Figure 6, a part 58?), seeparticularly Figure8, of the carrier passes under the chute 60, holding up the innerstherein from falling, whilst the inner just previously dropped into theshaped portion 58a 'of the carrier is disposed in front of the former11.

The carrier 58 also comprises a groove 586 formed symmetrically aboutthe horizontal diameter of an inner when within the shaped portion 58aof the carrier, the groove 580 terminating in a slot 58d.

Carriedon a support 61 conveniently comprised in the feed guide 55 forthe bands to be curled on the former 11 is a blade spring 62, and whenthe carrier is in the position shown in Figure 8 the tip of the spring62 is disposed in the groove 580.

As the carriage moves to the right the groove passes under the spring 62until the slot 58d is brought thereunder, when the spring 62 pushesthroughthe slot 58d, as clearly shown in Figure 3, and engages the backof an inner within the shaped portion 58a of the carriage 58,firsttilt-ing the inner into the vertical position and then moving itlaterally on to the former 11 being lodged within the circular portionof the outer guide plate 13.

To achieve correct movements of the car rier with regard to the otherportions of the machine there is mounted on the stub 29a (seeparticularly Figs. 1 and 6) an arm 63 which, with the handle 35, formsin nature a bell crank. To the free arm 63 is pivoted at 64 an abutment65, slotted at its free end as indicated at 66, see Figures 6 and 8, forrelative movement over a pin 67 carried by a lever 68 pivoted at 69 on asupport 57 a for the rail 57 carried by'the open frame 56. The lever 68is hinged at 70 to the carriage 58, preferably integrally, by means of aslot bar 71 held'to the carriage by pins 72, a spring 73 also connectingthe lever 68 to the carriage 58.

The length of the slot 66, of the abutment and of the lever .68 isarranged so that movement of the handle 35 to produce ejec tion of aninner is lost motion as regards movement'oit' the carriage, and notuntil the part of the movement of the handle for ejection has in factbeen completed is the lever 68 actuated to move the carriage.

In Figure 8 the angle between the position of the arm 63 and the line Arepresents the angle of movement of the arm 63, which is idle, and theangle between the lines AB on Figure 8 represents the movement which iseffective as regards movement of the carriage.

By providing the spring 73 and the slotted bar '71 as a meansofconnecting thelever 68 to the carriage 58 jarring is entirelyeliminated, because when the end of the slot66 comes against the pin 67there is an extension of thespring 73 accompanied by the movement of thebar 71 over the pins 7 2, and when this movement is finished thecarriagethen moves.

Preferably, to assist retention-of an inner on the face 54 of the formerand to assist ejection of an associated inner and hand, there isstretchedacrossthe face o'f-the former a spring or equivalent resilientmember, which is tensioned as a result of disposing the inner on theformer, thereby the cap is retained on the former and on being ejectedis again kicked therefrom by the spring or its equivalent.

In the preferred form and as shown in the accompanying drawings, thespring 74- is carried across the orifice of the guide plates 13 andconveniently is secured at one end to the pivot 22 of the rocker 21 andanchored at the other end to a pin 75 on the feed guide 55.

The disposition of the spring is clearly shown in F igures 4 and 5, thespring being indicated inF-igure l'by a line coincident with its axis toretain clearness in the drawings.

As the inner is placed over the face 54 of the former, the spring 74 isdeflected upwardlybetween its anc'horsand engages over the back oftheinner as clearly shownin Figure 5, thereby the inner is retained on theformer. On ejection the lateral displacement of the inneragain distendsthe spring which as soon as it is free of the former is shotdownwardlyby the spring and clear e ection of the inner and band obtained.

'What I claim is 1. In apparatus for curling and jointing a band havingatongue at one end and a slot at the other so as toform a locking ring,the combinationcomprising a rotatable former, a plunger moVably-mountedin said former and adapted to project from the periphery of said former,said plunger being adapted to set saidtongue, means for curling saidband around said former and a fixed abutment,

said abutment being adapted to actuate said plunger at a predeterminedperiod of the rotation of said formera 2. In apparatus for curling andjointing a band having a tongue at one end and a slot at the other so asto form a lockingring,

the combination comprising a formeijresilient means in said former forengaging said band and setting said tongue, means for curling said bandaround said former, means for engaging the slotted end of said band withengaging the slotted end of said band with i said tongue, said tonguesetting means being operable automatically during the curling operation,means for rotating said-former, and means for pressing together thejointed ends of the band during the last portion of the rotation of theformer, said pressing means and former being capable of relativemovement, said movement being utilized to press together the jointedends by a simple rolling action;

4. In apparatus for curling and'joint'i ng aband having a tongue atoneend and a slot at the other so as to form alocking ring, the combinationcomprising a former, resilient means in said former for engaging saidband and setting said tongue, means for curling said band around saidformer, means for engaging the slotted end of said band with saidtongue, said tonguesetting means being op erable automatically duringthe curling op- '4 eration, means for rotating saidformer, a rocker arm,a roller mounted 1n said ro'cker arm, said roller being adapted to presstogether the jointed ends of the band, and a cam onsaid former, said cambeing adapted 5" 1 P i ively operate the roller after a curling andjointing operation. .v 1

5. In apparatus for curling and jointing a band having a tongue at oneend and a slot at the other so as to formalocking ring, the

combination comprising a former, resilient means in said former.for'engaging said band and setting saidtongue, means for curling saidband around said former, means for engaging the slotted end of said bandwith said tongue, said tongue setting means being operable aut0maticallyduring the curling operatlon, means for rotatlng sald" former,

said former beingrotated intermittently, said means for rotating saidroller 1nclud1ngan oscillating memberand a ratchet,imeans for pressingtogether the jointed ends of said band during the final rotation of saidformer, and an ejector carried by saidformer, said ejector beingactuated directly by said oscillating member during its return movementwhereby the said former is cleared for operation during the next forwardmovement of said oscillating member.

6. In apparatus for curling and jointing a band having a tongue at oneend and a slot at the other so as to form a locking ring,' thecombination comprising a former, resilient means in said former forengaging said band and'setting said tongue, means for curling said bandaround said former, means for engaging the slotted end of said band withsaid tongue, said tongue setting means being operable automaticallyduring the curling opera tion, means for rotating said former, saidformer being rotated intermittently, said means for rotating said formerincluding an oscillating member and a ratchet, means for pressingtogether the jointed ends'of said band during the final rotation of saidformer, and an ejector carried by said former, said ejector beingactuated directly by said oscillating member during its return movementwherebythe said former is cleared for operation during the next forwardmovement-of said oscillating member, an articulated finger on saidoscillating member, and a pivotally mounted bell crank lever, said bellcrank lever being adapted to move the ejector laterally relatively tothe former, said finger being adapted to wipe over said bell crank leverduring rotation of said former but moving said bell crank to actuate theejector when said former is stationary.

7. 'In apparatus for curling and jointing a band having a tongue at oneend and a slot at the other so as to form a locking ring the combinationcomprising a former, means for intermittently rotating said former,resilient means projecting from the periphery of said former, saidmeansbeing adapted to engage said band and set said tongue, means forsupplying an inner to said former, said former having a face for thereception of said inner, means for curling and jointing said band aroundsaid former and 'onsaid inner, and resilient means retaining said inneron said former, said last mentioned. resilient means being tensionedwhen locating said inner onsaid former and retaining said inner on saidformer during curling and jointing and kicking said inner from theformer when ejected from said former.

'8. In apparatusfor curling and jointing a band having a tongue at oneendand a slot in the other so as to form a locking ring the combinationwith a former, of means for rotating said former intermittently, spacedguide plates between which said former'is mounted,a spring pressedplunger in said former and projecting from theperiphery thereof, saidplunger being adapted to engage said band'and set said tongue, andv saidguide plat-es havi a camming surface, said surface deflect the head ofsaid bandon to the former so as to curl the band on the said formerduring the rotation thereof, a rocker pivoted on said former to actuatesaid plunger, said former having a slot therein in which said plungermoves, and a trip fixed below said former and co-operating with saidrocker. v

9. apparatus for curling and jointing a band having a tongue atone endand a slot in the other so as to form a locking ring the combinationwith a former, of means for retating said former intermittently, spacedguide plates between which said former is mounted, afspring pressedplunger in said former and projecting from the periphery thereof, saidplunger being adapted to en said band and set said tongue, and saidguide plates having a camining surface, said surface defiecting the headof said band onto the former so as to curl the band onthe said formerduring the rotation thereof, and means forpressing said hand against thesaid former, said means including a rocker piv oted to said guideplates, a roller carried at one end of said rocker, a slotted plateadjustably secured tothe other end of, said rocker, a finger on saidslotted plate, and a cam on said former for co-operation with saidfinger. I

10. In apparatus for curling and jointing a band having a tongue at oneend. and a slot in the other so as to form a locking ring thecombination with a former,- of means for rotating said formerintermittently, spaced guide plates between which said former ismounted, a spring pressed plunger inv said former and projecting fromthe periphery thereof, said plunger being adapted to engage said bandand set said tongue, and said guide plates having a ca-mming surface,said surface deflecting the headofsaid band on to the former so astocurl the band on the said former during the rotation thereof, meansfor rotating said rocker intermittently including an oscillatiin member,a pawl carried by said oscillating member, a shaft, a-ratchet on saidshaft and co-operating with said pawl, a second shaft and gearingbetween said shafts, said second shaft having the former mountedthereon.

11. In apparatus for curling and jointing a band having a tongue at oneend and a slot in the other so as to form a locking ring the combinationwith a former, of means for rotating said former intermittently, spacedguide plates between whichsaid former is mounted, a springpressedplunger in said former and projecting from the periphery thereof,saidplunger being adapted toengage said band and set said tongue,-andsaid guide plates having a camming surface, said surface deflecting thehead of said band on to'the former so as to curl the band on the saidformer during the rotation thereof, said means for rotating the formerintermittently including a shaft on which said former is mounted, asecond shaft, gearing having 1 4 ratio between said shafts, a ratchetwheel c former and projecting from the periphery thereof, said plungerbeing adapted to engage said band and set said tongue, and said guideplates having a camming surface, said surface deflecting the head ofsaid band on to the former so as to curl the band on the said former dring the rotationthereof, and means for ejecting the jointed lockingring, said ejecting means including a shaft on which said formerismounted, a collar having a groove on the outside on said shaft, a secondshaft extending at right angles to said first shaft, arms fixed to saidshaft,shoes carried on said arms and engaging said groove, a second armcarried by said second shaft, a bowl on said arm, all of said arms beingconnected together by bell cranks, an oscillating member, an articulatedfinger on member, said finger coopersaid oscillating ating with-saidarm, versely bored, and said collar and verse horings. 7

13. In apparatus forvcurling'and jointing a band having a tongue in theother so as to form a locking ring the combination with a former, ofmeans for rotating said former intermittently, spaced guide platesbetween which said former is mounted, a springpressed plunger in saidformer and projecting from the periphery thereof, said plunger beingadapted toengage said band and set said tongue, and said said formerbeing transe ector pins carried by passing through saidtransguide plateshaving a camming surface, saidsurface deflecting the head of said bandon to the former so as tocurl the band on the said former during therotation thereof, and means for ejecting the jointed locking ring, saidmeans including a shaft on which said former is mounted, said formerbeing transversely bored, a collar mounted onsaid shaft,

e ector pins on said collar, said pins engaging said borings, means foractuating said collar, and means for obtaining registration between saidborings and said pins, said last mentioned means including a shoulder onpivoted between said the hooked end pressed plunger in said at oneendand a slot.

said former and. a catch lever having a tail guide plates, said catchlever having a hooked end for engagement with said shoulder, said catchco-operating with the collar actuating means so as to bring of the catchinto and out of engagement with said shoulder.

1ft. In'apparatus for curling and ointing a band having atongue at oneend and a slot in the other so as to form locking ring the com binationwith a former, of means for rotating said former intermittently, spacedguide plates between which said former is mounted, a spring pressedplunger'in said former and projecting from the periphery. thereof, saidplunger being adapted to engage said band, and set said tongue, and saidguide plates having a camming surface,said surface deflecting the headof said band on to the'former so as to curlthe band on the said formerdurin the rotation thereof, and means for feeding an inner tosaidformer, said means includ ing anopen framework having a parallelrail, a carriage sliding on saidrail, and a chute v inclined to thevertical on said framework and adapted to deliver innersto saidcarriage.

l5. Inapparatus for curling -and jointing a band having a tongue'at oneend and a slot in the other combination with a former, of means forrotating said former intermittently, spaced guide plates between whichsaid former is mounted, a spring pressed plunger in said former andprojecting from the periphery thereof, said plunger being adaptedtoengage said band and set said tongue, and said guide plates having acammingsurface, said, to; theformer so as to curl the-band on the saidformer during the rotation thereof, and. means for feeding an inner tosaid former, said means including an open framework having aparallel'rail, a carriage sliding on said rail, and a chute inclined tothevertical on said framework and adapted to deliver inners to saidcarriage, and means for moving said carriage into a position forreceiving inners from said chute and for delivering said innersto theformer. p i

In apparatus for curling and jointing a band having a tongue at one endand a slot in the other so as to form a locking ring the combinationwith a former, of means for rotating said former intermittently, spacedguide plates between whicl said former mounted, a spring pres former andprojecting from the thereof, said plunger being adapted to on saidbandand. set saidtonguaanel said guide plates havinga cainming surface, saidsurface deflecting the head of said band on to the forms so as to curlthe band on the said former during the rotation thereof, and means forfeeding an inner to said former, said means including an open frameworksons to form a lockingringthe surface deflecting the head of said bandon sed plunger in said periphery having a parallel rail, a carriagesliding on said rail, and a chute inclined to the vertical on saidframework and adaptedto'deliver in ners to said carriage, said carriagehaving a groove therein formed symmetrically about the horizontaldiameter of the inner and a slot in which said groove terminates, asupport, and a blade spring carried by said support and co-operatingwith said groove and slot, said bladespring being adapted to engage saidinner, first tilting said inner into a vertical position and then movingsaid innor laterally on tot-he former.

17. In apparatus for curling and jointing a band having a tongue atoneend and a slot in the other so as to form a locking ring the combinationwith a former, of means for rotating said former intermittently, spacedguide plates between which said former is mounted, a spring pressedplunger in said former and projecting from the periphery thereof, saidplunger eing adapted'to engage said band and set said tongue, and saidguide plates having a camming surface, said surface deflecting the headof saidband on to the former so as to curl the band on the said formerduring the rotation thereof, and

a means for feeding an inner to said former,

feed carriage for inners,

said means including an open framework having a parallel rail,.acarriage sliding on said rail, and a chute inclined to the vertical onsaid framework and adapted to ners to saidcarriage, a carriage forsupplying inners to said former, and'mean's actuating said carriage insynchronism with the other operative elements of said apparatus.

18. In apparatus for curling and jointing a band having a tongue at oneend and a slot in the other so as to form a locking ring the combinationwith a former,'of means for rotating said former intermittently, spacedguide plates between mounted, a spring pressed plunger in said formerand projecting from thereof, said plunger being gage said band and setsaid tongue, and said guide plates having a camming surface, saidsurface deflecting the head of said band on to the former so as to curlthe band on to the former during the rotation thereof, and means forfeeding an inner to said former, said means including an open frameworkhaving a parallel rail, a carriage sliding on said rail, and a chuteinclined to-thevertical adapted to enon said framework and adapted todeliver inners to said carriage, a pivotally mounted arm, means foractuating said arm, a slotted abutment pivoted'to one end of said arm, aa framework in which said carriage is slidably mounted, a leverpivotally mounted on said framework, a pin on said lever engagingsaidslotted abutment, a slotted bar pivotally connected to said lever, meanssuch as pins connecting said fixed deliver in-v which said former is theperiphery bar to said said lever to said carriage.

19. Apparatus wherein thelength of the slot of the abutment and thelength of the lever are such that a portion of the movement ofthe'actuating means for the arm is lost motion as regards motion of saidcarriage;

20. In apparatus for curling and jointing a band having a tongue at oneend and a slot in the other so as'to form a locking ring the combinationwith a former, of'meansfor' 'otating said former intermittently, spacedguide plates between which said former is mounted, a spring pressedplungerin said former and projecting from the periphery thereof, saidplunger being adaptedto engage said band and set said tongue, and saidguide plates having a camming surface, said surface deflecting the headof said band on to the former so as to curl the band on the said formerduring the rotation thereof, a spring extending across the space betweensaid guide plates, a feed guide for bands adjacent one of said guideplates, one end of said spring being attached to said feed guide, amounted rocker pivotally mounted on the other guide plate, the other endof said spring being attached to the pivot point efsaid rocker, andmeans forfeeding an inner to said former, the arrangement beingsuch thatwhen an inner is placed over the face of the former the said spring isde tlected upwardly and engages over the back of the inner so as toretain it on the former. 211 In'apparatus for curling and jointing aband slotted at one end and having a terminal tongue at the other end soas to form a locking ring'the combination with a former, of means forrotating said former intermittently, spaced guide plates between whichsaid former is mounted, a spring pressed plunger in said formerandprojecting from the periphery thereof,- said plunger being adapted toengage said band, and said guide lates having a camming surface,saidsurface deflecting the head of said band onto the former so as tocurl the band on the said former during the rotation thereof and tothread the slotted end over the tongue.

22(In apparatus for curling and jointing a locking ring the combinationcomprising a rotatable former, a resilient plunger in said formerforengaging a band having a terminal tongue at one end and a slot at theother and from which the said locking ring is to be made and for settingthe tongue,

guides for the slotted end of said band being disposed to constrain saidslotted end onto the former and thread the slot over the set tongue, andmeans folpressing together the jointed ends, said last-mentioned meansbeing operable automatically during the curling operation. 7

WILLIAM A. srnrnnus.

carriage, and a spring connecting according to claim 18

